Need help with an old computer and the network card

[shervinj]

Hi Guys,

I have this problem I need some help with. My friend has a 300mhx IBM Aptiva. About two weeks ago the Ethernet card stopped working all of a sudden. We noticed the cable would not stay in the card so we figured that was the problem. We ordered a new ISA NIC and installed it and it worked fine for one hour. However, now it has stopped working again. The light on the back of the NIC only lights up for a second when the computer is powered on. I am not sure what the problem is. I would have tried another slot but the Aptiva only has two slots and the other one has the sound card in it and my friend?s dad only uses the computer to listen to music online and to surf. I uninstalled the card and reinstalled it and that has no solved the problem either.

I have thought of trying out one of the USB external NICs. I understand they are slower than a traditional NIC. Would you really notice that much of a difference with the external NIC since the computer is so old already?

Any help would be appreciated.

 

[JackMDS]

USB NIC is only 10Mb/sec. It will work fine for Internet connection. For regular Network transfer it is like any other 10Mb/sec. NIC i.e. slower then 100MB/sec. but adequate for casual network traffic.

Some USB NICs misinform by stating USB-10/100, while actually they mean, can be connected to 100Mb/sec. Network.